Priceless treasure unearthed in a local field belonged to the legendary ‘King of Cheslyn Hay’, local historians believe. They feel the ‘Staffordshire Hoard’, officially declared as treasure last week, belonged to an Anglo Saxon king connected to Cheslyn Hay. Despite searches, the grave of the nobleman has never been discovered. But historians now believe it is only a matter of time before the last resting place of the king is discovered.

Trevor McFarlane, from Cheslyn Hay and District History Society, said the village name derives from ‘Chistlin Hay’ - Anglo Saxon for a small chest or coffin.

“It’s already said in the history books that there has been a king buried in this area,” Trevor told The Post.

“People are saying this is a weapons cache which has been found. But you don’t have gold weapons. Archaeologists are saying these belonged to an important chieftain or king from West Mercia.”

This was before the time England even existed on the map.

Local legend has it that the king was buried at Middle Hill - but when the M6 Toll was built excavations did not reveal anything.

“In my belief, the burial site is a mile down the road, near Brownhills,” Trevor said.

“In 600-700 AD maps were not that definitive.”

Trevor believes the treasure belongs to ‘the lost King of Cheslyn Hay’.

“This links in perfectly with the history or legend of Cheslyn Hay,” he said. “Historians have been saying this for years.”

One theory is that riches were buried with a king ‘for the afterworld’.

Trevor believes just because the burial site hasn’t been found doesn’t mean it isn’t there.

“This is all too much of a coincidence,” he added.

“This treasure belonged to someone of importance - and we know someone of that importance existed in Cheslyn Hay.”

Trevor admitted he always hoped a find would be made in Cheslyn Hay.

But mystery remains about where the coffin is. Has it rotted over the centuries?

Where are the King’s bones?

Is there a stone coffin as yet undiscovered?

The treasure, which has gained international fame, was found by metal detectorist Terry Herbert, aged 55, from Boney Hay, in July this year.

The biggest haul of Anglo Saxon treasure ever found in Britain, it dates back to 600-700 AD.

There are about 1,300 items, mostly gold and silver, with many precious gems.

Most of the find consists of military items such as sword hilt fittings and helmets. There are also a biblical inscription on gold and a folded cross.

The hoard, now on display at Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery, attracted over 10,000 visitors at the weekend alone.

It is expected to be valued as a seven-figure sum.

Coroner Andrew Haigh officially named the find as ‘treasure’ during an inquest last week.

“This is a massive, fantastic find,” he said. “We should not forget probably the hundreds who died from this hoard.